Esperanza Rising is a young adult historical fiction novel written by Mexican-American author Pam Muñoz Ryan and released by Scholastic Press on 27 March 2000. The novel focuses on Esperanza, the only daughter of wealthy Mexican parents, and follows the events that occur after her father's murder. Esperanza, her mother, and their former household servants flee to California with no money during the Great Depression, where they find agricultural work that pays very little. The book received multiple positive reviews from critics, who praised Muñoz Ryan's writing and excitedly concluded that it was welcome for classroom discussion. Source: Wikipedia (en)